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Russia and China Team Up Against NATO Libya Campaign

Russia and China teamed up this week against the NATO military campaign against Muammar Gaddafi in Libya. The north African nation has faced on-again, off-again arial attacks against strategic military positions since the UN Security Council issued a no fly zone resolution on March 17. The resolution was a response to Gaddafi’s attacks against civilian anti-government protesters.

In a joint declaration signed in the Kremlin, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Chinese President Hu Jintao emphasized once more the need for political solutions to the Libya crisis, as well as the ongoing dispute about Iran and North Korea nuclear programs, the Shanghai Times reported on Friday.

Nations must “not allow the wilful interpretation and expanded application” of the resolutions, the statement said.

Russia and China are permanent members of the UN Security Council. Both have veto powers, but opted to abstain from the March resolution. Despite non-commitment to the Libya fight on paper, China and Russia have been critical of Washington and Brussels ever since, calling the air strikes unnecessary. Russia accuses NATO of overstepping its mandate to protect civilians, a charge Western nations deny.

Russia is making an effort as peace broker in Libya. On Thursday, Mikhail Margelov, the Russian presidential envoy to Africa, met with top representatives of Gaddafi’s inner circle in Tripoli. Libyan Prime Minister Baghdadi Mahmudi and Foreign Minister Abdel Ati Al-Obeidi met with Margelov to discuss a permanent cease fire and Gaddafi’s future in Libya.

Margelov told reporters at Russian newswire Ria Novosti that, “If Gaddafi steps down and is ready for a political process to resolve the crisis, then the (NATO) military actions can stop very soon.”

On June 1, NATO command said it was extending its mission in Libya to September 30.

On March 17, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, said he had abstained from voting, although his country’s position opposing violence against civilians in Libya was clear. Russia did not prevent the adoption of the resolution, but Churkin said he was convinced that an immediate ceasefire was the best way to stop the loss of life.

Gaddafi agreed to a cease fire, then changed his mind less than 72 hours later.

Russia cautioned against unpredicted consequences during the signing of the resolution and stressed that there was a need to avoid further destabilization in North Africa.

Meanwhile, Security Council President Li Baodong of China, said the continuing deterioration of the situation in Libya was of great concern to China. China did not veto, Baodong said in the meeting minutes, because it considered the opinions and regional interests of the pro-resolution Arab League and the African Union.

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